Who is Meghan Markle?

She has campaigned with the United Nations on gender equality, written in Time magazine about girls' education and the stigma surrounding menstruation, and has traveled to Rwanda as global ambassador for the charity World Vision Canada.

At a 2015 star-studded event for the U.N. women's agency, she said, "I am proud to be a woman and a feminist." She then relayed a story about how, at the age of 11, she became a female advocate after protesting Procter and Gamble's use of the phrase, "women all over America are fighting greasy pots and pans" in a dishwashing ad.

She wrote to the company, then-first lady Hillary Clinton, attorney Gloria Allred and pioneering TV journalist Linda Ellerbee. In the end, the company changed the ad. It became, "people all over America."

Because her background has made headlines, we'll also note that she's biracial. Harry took the unusual step of officially confirming the romance in order to warn the media off.

Is Markle the first American to marry a royal?

That would be a no.

In 1936, King Edward VIII gave up the throne to marry the twice-divorced Wallis Simpson. At the time, the idea of a British royal — especially the current monarch — marrying a divorcee was considered disgraceful. But Edward said it was "impossible to carry on the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge the duties of king, as I would wish to do, without the help and support of the woman I love."

After Edward abdicated, his brother became King George VI. You may know him better as Queen Elizabeth's father.

Other Americans who married into royalty include Lisa Halaby — better known as Queen Noor of Jordan — actress Rita Hayworth and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' younger sister, Lee Radziwill.

So should I start calling her Princess Meghan?

No. Markle can only use princess before her name if she were born into the royal family. However, when she marries Prince Harry, she'll become Her Royal Highness Princess Henry of Wales.

The queen will also likely bestow Harry and Markle with their own royal titles, which Markle will likely use instead. Middleton, for example, is known as the Duchess of Cambridge rather than Her Royal Highness Princess William of Wales.

But wait a minute, you say. What about Princess Diana — she wasn't born into the royal family and yet she's a princess.

Technically, Diana was the Princess of Wales, so even though she had the word "princess" in her name, her official title wasn't Princess Diana. But let's be real, Princess Diana rolls off the tongue a lot more nicely than Princess of Wales.

Tell me about the dress.

Well, there's not much to say about it right now. Details of who's designing the dress to what it'll look like have been tightly guarded. It's unlikely anything will leak before the big day.

The world didn't glimpse Middleton's dress until she left her hotel on her wedding day, with the full reveal happening when she arrived at Westminster Abbey.

What's all the fuss over Markle's dad?

Markle announced Thursday her father would not walk her down the aisle due to health problems. Instead, Charles — Harry's dad — will accompany her.

"Sadly, my father will not be attending our wedding," she said in a statement released by Kensington Palace. "I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health."

The palace has not revealed details about 73-year-old Thomas Markle's health issues, but the celebrity website TMZ said he is hospitalized in California after undergoing a procedure to clear blocked coronary arteries.

The retired television cinematographer reportedly told the website he was OK but needed to rest. Earlier in the week, he had told them he would not attend the wedding after suffering a heart attack amid media frenzy around the nuptials.

TMZ reported the elder Markle had decided to stay away after criticism over his decision to pose for mocked up wedding-preparation shots taken by a paparazzi agency.

Will Harry be king?

Probably not. Harry is now sixth in line to the throne, after his father (Charles), older brother (William) and William's three children (Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis).

• HBO: Cord Hosenbeck and Tish Cattigan — you probably know them better as Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon — will put their own spin on the wedding for this "Funny or Die" special airing on HBO. "The Royal Wedding Live with Cord and Tish" airs live at 6:30 a.m. Central time. Of course, this means you'll need an HBO account to watch. We can't help you there.

Who's invited?

About 600 friends and family have been invited to watch Harry and Markle tie the knot. Reportedly not on the list are President Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May. A person with knowledge of the guest list says former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama also are not attending.

Meanwhile, about 1,200 members of the public — many involved with charities or community groups — have been invited to the grounds of the castle for the celebration.

So I'm not invited. Someone's having a party I can attend, right?

Brit's Pub in downtown Minneapolis is throwing a huge watch party Saturday. Expect big-screen projectors and 80-inch HDTVs, along with complimentary wedding cake. For those who want to toast the happy couple, drink specials will be available at 8 a.m.

Doors open at 5 a.m. Expect a crowd. About 900 people showed up in 2011 when Brit's hosted a viewing party for the wedding of William and Kate.

If waking up that early isn't your thing, or you want to watch it on a really big screen, head to a Marcus Theatre. The royal wedding will play at 10 a.m. at various theaters across Minnesota, including in Oakdale, Duluth and Rochester. Admission is $10.

Why should I care?

We don't have a really good answer for this other than it's fun to watch the spectacle of a big British royal wedding.